EVA and Rubber Blend Golf Club Grip

ABSTRACT

A single piece, tubular golf grip, which is open at both ends and comprised entirely of EVA material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior golf grip designs. Golf grips themselves have been used on golf clubs for many years. Their designs have varied little and largely consist of a tube-like shape, which is open on one end and closed on the other end to allow for installation onto the golf club.

With this limitation in design, the only way to individualize and/or customize a golf grip is by altering its entire appearance.

Prior use of EVA material. The majority, if not all, of the golf grips on the market today are comprised of natural rubber, silicone rubber and/or some combination of elastomers. Those golf grips utilizing EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer) material incorporate the EVA as a one part layer of several layers of other materials that also include rubber.

EVA material has been used commercially for many different products. EVA material has many advantageous properties such as durability, flexibility, thermal neutrality. In addition, EVA is extremely light weight.

Given these properties, EVA has been used to construct varying products from shoes to surfboard traction pads to artificial flowers. EVA has been a popular material for use in the construction of fishing rod handles for many years.

While its popularity in other products is undeniable, no one has yet designed and fabricated a golf grip comprised entirely of EVA that falls within the specific dimensions and requirements for certified golf play.

One of the biggest problems facing the golf industry today is reducing the overall weight of the golf club. The heavier the golf club, the harder it is for the average golfer to swing. A golf club consists of a head, a shaft, and a grip. On average, the standard size golf grip weighs 50 grams.

Currently, the only way to reduce the weight of the golf grip, and thereby the total weight of the golf club, is to reduce the size of the golf grip. Unfortunately, a reduction in the overall size of the golf grip means that the golf grip is more challenging and more cumbersome for any person with average or above average size hands to hold and use.

Therefore, a need has arisen for a light weight golf grip with resiliency and strength that is customizable in both size and appearance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Given its extremely light weight, this Invention allows the golf grip to be made in varying sizes while adding only a nominal amount of weight proportional to size. On average, this Invention weighs between 10 to 15 grams.

More particularly, this Invention varies from previous golf club grips in that it is a single piece construction made entirely of EVA.

Additionally, by leaving both ends of the golf club grip open, this Invention allows for easy personalization and customization of the golf club grip as the user may install any type of closure or cap piece desired to the exposed end of the golf club grip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf club grip according to the Invention.

FIG. 2 is an axial cross-section view of the golf club grip shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the Invention comprised entirely of EVA material. A golf club shaft is indicated generally at 10. The Invention, a golf club grip, is show in FIG. 1, and generally indicated at 12. The Invention contains both a butt end portion 14, and a tip end portion 16. The golf club grip 12 is an elongated tubular body which is left open at both the tip end 16 and the butt end 14. The golf club grip 12 is between ten to eleven inches in length.

FIG. 2 is an axial cross-section of the golf club grip 12. The golf club grip 12 is an elongated tubular body having an internal axial bore between 0.50 and 0.625 inches 18.

Although the Invention has been illustrated and described as such, various modifications in external shape, outer design pattern, etc., can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the Invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf club grip comprised of EVA material.
 2. The golf club grip of claim 1, wherein the total weight of said grip is in the range of 10 to 15 grams.
 3. The golf club grip of claim 2, wherein said grip has a length of about ten to eleven inches.
 4. The golf club grip of claim 3, wherein said grip has an internal bore coaxial to the length thereof that is sized to between 0.50 to 0.625 inches.
 5. The golf club grip of claim 4, wherein both ends of said grip are open. 